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ITALIAN ROOTS. GLOBAL REACH.
“Our name Ethica Wines means transparency as a key value for our company. We provide our partners with informed advice that will allow them to build our working relationships through a well-honed and overarching approach to doing business.
Our Italian team operates globally, offering importing, marketing and sales services in North America and Asia Pacific. From Italy to the world.”
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A NOTE FROM OUR CEO
“Ethica Wines is a long-term, ambitious project born out of a dream to create a new, value-driven approach to Italian wine importing and distributing. The project is focused on authenticity and generating enthusiasm among consumers and producers alike. Our team of dynamic and passionate professionals takes its inspiration from wine culture ground in Italian heritage. Our goal is to build a new future for Italian wine across the world.” Francesco Ganz Co-founder & CEO
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OUR SALES REGIONS
“Our team is made up of young and highly skilled professionals whose passion and expertise make it one of the best in the industry. With streamlined decision- making, team members in every major market, and robust support from our office in Italy, we are committed to forging long- term partnerships.
Stationed throughout the globe we keep a close eye on our local markets and at the same time get a global perspective of the current wine world. With our reach, you’ll get constant support guaranteed. From Italy to the world we cover from coastline to coastline and back again.”
Northwest
Southwest
Mountains
Midwest
Central South
Northeast
Mid Atlantic
Southeast
NY - NJ
USA
WA
ME
ND
VT
MT
MN
OR
NH
NY
MA
ID
SD
WI
RI
MI
MY
CT
PA MD
NJ
IA
NE
OH
NV
IN
UT
WV
CA
DE
CO
VA
KY
KS
MO
NC
TN
OK
SC
AZ
AR
NM
GA
MS
AL
TX
LA
FL
AK
HI
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PORTFOLIO BY CATEGORY
Ethica Wines offers a portfolio of high-quality Italian wines. With a selection of the most desirable regions from distinctive wine-growing estates; our wine portfolio is a celebration of Italy in all its Stars, Diamonds, and Everyday forms.
STARS Leading and noteworthy wineries from major Italian wine regions.
LITTLE DIAMONDS Unique and outstanding wines from handpicked estates worth to discover.
EVERYDAY ITALY Classic great-quality Italian wines for everyday consumption.
Additional specifications about certain wines.
VEGAN FRIENDLY Produced without animal fining agents. CRU Single-vineyard designation.
ORGANIC Farmed without chemicals.
BIODYNAMIC Holistically farmed.
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REGIONS & WINERIES
--- 1. Valle d’Aosta La Kiuva --- 2. Piemonte Borgogno Cordero
--- 5. Friuli-Venezia Giulia/Slovenia Movia --- 6. Lombardia Ca’ dei Frati --- 7. Emilia – Romagna Villa di Corlo --- 8. Toscana Cafaggio
p. 17
p. 111
p. 23
p. 123
p. 31 p. 37 p. 41 p. 45 p. 49 p. 57 p. 63 p. 67 p. 71 p. 87 p. 79 p. 83 p. 91 p. 95 p. 99 p. 105
di Montezemolo Fontanabianca
p. 131
Ottosoldi Scagliola Villa Sparina
p. 153 p. 157 p. 147 p. 143 p. 137
--- 3. Trentino – Alto Adige Cantina Lavis Cembra Oro Rosso St. Pauls --- 4. Veneto Anselmi Antica Quercia Ca’ dei Zago Giovanna Tantini Le Contesse La Gioiosa Nicolis
Cappella Sant’Andrea Fattoria Le Pupille I Greppi Ridolfi
--- 9. Puglia
p. 163
Vespa
--- 10. Sicilia
Baglio Di Grîsi Terrazze dell‘Etna ---------------------------------------- Everyday Italy Beer Birra Dolomiti p. 194 p. 183 p. 171 p. 177
ITALY
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VALLE D'AOSTA
The Aosta Valley (Valle d’Aosta or Val d’Aosta in Italian) is renowned for its “heroic viticulture.” The slopes of this ancient alpine river valley are so steep that all the work in the vineyards must be carried out by hand. Grape growing there is shaped by the cool alpine air currents that arrive from
the north and the granitic composition of the valley’s walls. Combined, they create the ideal conditions for diurnal shifts: The granitic rock traps the warmth of the sun during the day, while the cool air cools the vineyards at night, thus prolonging the vegetative cycle and delivering freshness and
rich flavors in the wine. The main grape varieties grown there are Nebbiolo, which makes for lighter-styled but nonetheless complex wines, and the native Petit Rouge, which is made generally in a bright, fruit-forward (but not jammy) style. Chardonnay is also grown there with spectacular results.
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VALLE D'AOSTA
Courmayer
Aosta
Arnad
La Kiuva
Cooperative producer of top wines from Aosta Valley, home to mountainside vineyards and the heroic grower members who farm them.
• Founded in the second half of the 1970s, La Kiuva (lah kee-OO-vah) is a cooperative winery with 50 grower members located in the beautiful small village of Arnad, right at the heart of the Alps. • Members were encouraged to take over old, abandoned vineyards in the best areas in order to produce authentic and sustainable wines. • 15 hectares (37 acres) of vines all hand-picked • The winery has some of the highest-lying vineyards in the world, located between 380 and 500 meters above sea level (1250 - 1640 feet) • La Kiuva is committed to giving value to the terroir and the indigenous grape variety as Picotendro, the local clone of Nebbiolo • The Alpine climate, with wide temperature variations between day and night increase the acidity and freshness of the grapes • Cultivation method: Guyot and Pergola, on sandy glacier-crafted terraces • Soil: sandy and alkaline.
In the Aosta Valley where La Kiuva grows grapes and makes wine, Nebbiolo is known as Picotendro, from the French Picot Tendre. Nebbiolo from this part of Italy, where French is spoken, is often more delicate and more perfumed than its Piedmontese counterpart.
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LA KIUVA Rosé de Vallée
LA KIUVA Arnad Montjovet Supérieur Valle d’Aosta DOC
Although its members also grow international grape varieties like Merlot and Chardonnay, their primary focus is grape varieties native to the Aosta Valley like Petite Arvine, Petit Rouge, and Picotendro, the local name for Nebbiolo. La Kiuva’s clean winemaking style is centered around freshness, clarity, and terroir expression.
LA KIUVA Rouge de Vallée
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PIEMONTE
The name Piedmont means literally “at the foot of the mountain,” a reference to the fact that the region is bordered to the northwest and west by the towering Apennine Alps. Although today we think of Piedmont as a producer of Italy’s most coveted and collectible wines it wasn’t until the post-war era that the region emerged as a wine powerhouse. There are a
number of reasons why Piedmont, and in particular the Langhe Hills where Nebbiolo is grown for Barolo and Barbaresco, are ideal for fine wine production: Alpine currents help to cool the grapes during summer and maritime influence — from both the nearby Mediterranean and the Tanaro river which snakes through the area — helps to mitigate the cold
during winter, for example. But the most important element is arguably the ancient seabed soils and their calcareous character that make Piedmont one of the best growing sites in Italy.
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PIEMONTE
Torino
Gavi
Alba
Barolo
Borgogno
Barolo’s oldest continuously operating winery, with one of the oldest cellars in the appellation. Traditional-style wines, favorites among leading sommeliers.
• Founded in 1761, Borgogno is the oldest continuously operating winery in Barolo. • Cesare Borgogno was one of the first winemakers from Piedmont to ship wines abroad, he created also a “wine library”where half of the Barolo production is held back, only to be released 20 years later. • With the Farinetti takeover, the vineyards’ organic certification is fully achieved in 2020 and the winery began using only cement vats for fermentation, a return to the original winemaking style. • Still today, vinification and bottling take place in the original and historic building built in 1761. • Winery’s focus is on the Barolo production, with three of the most prestigious single vineyards around the village of Barolo: Cannubi, Liste and Fossati. Others great reds are produced: Barbera, Dolcetto and Nebbiolo d’Alba. • Recently, Borgogno acquired 5 hectares of Timorasso, fromwhich is produced the CRUDerthona • In the vinification process, the traditional Barolo production method is followed: long contact with the skins, concrete tank fermentation and ageing in big barrels of Slavonian oak. • Today, the estate includes 39 hectares (96 acres) with 31 planted to vine. • Elevation between 300 and 450 meters above sea level.
Back in the 1920s, Cesare Borgogno decidedly to do something entirely unheard of at the time in Barolo: He began cellaring half of the production from every vintage instead of selling it. Today, Borgogno has one of the deepest wine libraries in the world, with vintages stretching back decades.
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BORGOGNO Derthona Colli Tortonesi DOC
BORGOGNO Dolcetto d’Alba DOC
BORGOGNO Barbera d’Alba DOC
BORGOGNO Nebbiolo Langhe DOC
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First released in 2011, Borgogno’s Langhe Nebbiolo “No Name” was born after the Barolo tasting committee “flunked” a cask of the estate’s classic Barolo even though the same tasters “approved” a second cask with the exact same wine. Discouraged but determined, the winemaker decided to call the reclassified Barolo “No Name” in protest. And the rest is history.
BORGOGNO No Name Nebbiolo Langhe DOC
BORGOGNO Barolo Classico DOCG
One of Barolo’s most iconic producers, Borgogno focuses on native grapes varieties and traditional-style winemaking. The wines are made using classic techniques like extended submerged cap maceration and long-term, large-format cask aging. The wines are indisputable classics and library releases are always available thanks to an ambitious cellaring program.
BORGOGNO Barolo Riserva DOCG
BORGOGNO Cannubi Barolo DOCG
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1 Liter bottle.
BORGOGNO Bianco Borgogno
1 Liter bottle.
BORGOGNO Chinato Borgogno
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PIEMONTE
Torino
Gavi
Alba
Barolo
Cordero Di Montezemolo
Certified organic grower and historic producer of Barolo made from one of the appellation’s most coveted vineyards, Monfalletto.
• Located in in the village of La Morra, at the heart of the Barolo DOCG appellation • The vineyards are 100%Certified Organically Farmed since 2013 and no herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides are used • Efficient and sustainable cultivation techniques: Cordero received the UnescoWorld Heritage Friends Certificate for providing a wonderful example of integrated architecture where antique structures blend harmoniously with innovative restoration works • Great whites: age-worthy, complex Chardonnay and young, fresh Arneis. • Signature Reds: age-worthy Barolos that slowly and continuously evolve in the bottle, theMonfalletto Barolo, a multiple vineyards Barolo blend, is winery’s masterpiece of unique elegance and finesse • Altogether, the family owns and makes wine from 56 hectares of land (135 acres), all estate-owned and managed. Among these, a hilly amphitheater of 28 hectares is planted to Nebbiolo to produce Barolo. • Dolcetto, Barbera, and Arneis are planted on the northern- facing side of the hill. • In 1965, the Cordero family purchased two hectares in the Villero cru, one of Barolo’s most coveted growing sites from which is produced flagship wine Barolo Enrico VI • Elevation average of 300 meters above sea level (1000 feet) • Soil complex and rich in clay and limestone.
The famous Lebanon cedar planted at the highest point of Cordero di Montezemolo’s Monfalletto estate in La Morra is one of the symbols of the Barolo appellation and one of the Langhe Hills’ most iconic landmarks. It’s even used by the Italian air force for navigation.
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CORDERO DI MONTEZEMOLO Arneis Langhe DOC
CORDERO DI MONTEZEMOLO Elioro Chardonnay Langhe DOC
Cordero di Montezemolo is one of Italy’s most iconic wineries, producer of some of the most famous expressions of Barolo. Although it grows some Chardonnay, its focus is on native grapes, primarily Nebbiolo. An extra year of bottle aging makes their wines more approachable on release.
CORDERO DI MONTEZEMOLO Barbera d’Alba DOC
CORDERO DI MONTEZEMOLO Nebbiolo Langhe DOC
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Other formats available: 0.375, 1.5, 3, 5 L
CORDERO DI MONTEZEMOLO Monfalletto Barolo DOCG
Other formats available: 1.5 L
CORDERO DI MONTEZEMOLO Gattera Barolo DOCG
Other formats available: 1.5 L
CORDERO DI MONTEZEMOLO Enrico VI Barolo DOCG
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PIEMONTE
Torino
Gavi
Alba
Barolo
Fontanabianca
Producer of cru-designate Barbaresco from two of the appellation’s most famous vineyard sites, Serraboella and Bordini.
• Founded in 1969, the winery has some of the best vineyard sites in the village of Neive in the heart of the Barbaresco appellation. • Named after a natural spring, the “white fountain” from which the water for vineyards is sourced • Family-led winery where winemakers Aldo Pola, the founder of Fontanabianca, and the son Matteo take care of the entire production • Awarded with “The Green Experience” certification which ensures Eco-friendly and sustainable viticulture and productions, protection of biodiversity and of the natural environment, elimination of chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides • 15 hectares (37 acres) cultivated with Nebbiolo and Arneis grapes • Producer of elegant and classic Barbaresco, pure expression of the terroir and the flagship Bordini Cru, one of the top Crus in the Barbaresco region. • Recently renovated winery equipped with state-of-the-art technology • Elevation: around 300 meters above sea level (1000 feet) • The calcareous-clayish, medium-textured soil gives the perfect grapes to produce perfumed, elegant and full- bodied wines. • Slightly maritime climate: warmer, drier and milder than its neighbor Barolo.
At Fontanabianca, the father-and-son team divide the work between them: Aldo, the dad, is the vineyard manager and Matteo, the son, makes the wines. Aldo’s known as one of the best growers in Barbaresco and Matteo was mentored by one of the greatest Nebbiolo producers of all time, Beppe Caviola.
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FONTANABIANCA Arneis Langhe DOC
Fontanabianca makes cru- designate Barbaresco from two of the appellations most famous vineyards, Serraboella and Bordini (the latter a rare sorì in Barbaresco). The winemaking style is traditional, with a focus on vintage expression and Nebbiolo’s classic aromas and flavors. Similarly, the winery’s Arneis and Dolcetto are classic in style.
FONTANABIANCA Barbera d’Alba Superiore DOC
FONTANABIANCA Barbaresco DOCG
FONTANABIANCA Bordini Barbaresco DOCG
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PIEMONTE
Torino
Alessandria
Gavi
Ottosoldi
A boutique producer of Gavi sourced from one of the appellation’s most coveted growing sites.
• Winery’s name recalls the story of the grandfather of the current generation of owners, who purchased this gorgeous estate and top growing site with otto soldi or eight shillings that he had managed to save. • Producer of elegant and well-balanced Gavi, certified organic from vintage 2019, representing the perfect expression of the indigenous Cortese grape • The 5000 plants per hectare are being cured according to biological methods which demands a cultivation without fertilizers and chemical synthesis. • Boutique winery, total production of 5000 cases. • 5 hectares (13 acres) of vineyards, organically certified that extend across an amphitheater vineyard with southwest exposure — one of the most coveted crus in the Gavi appellation. • Elevation: between 250 and 300 meters above sea level (820 – 1000 feet) • Climate: this hilly area of Southern Piemonte, close to the Ligurian border, benefits from the mild Mediterranean Sea influence which preserves the freshness and natural aromas and flavors of the grapes during vinification. • Soil: rich in clay and limestone.
The Ottosoldi farm is one of the top growing sites in the Gavi appellation. Just a small five-hectare parcel, this southern- facing amphitheater produces what many consider to be benchmark wines for the appellation. It’s even more remarkable to think that it was purchased for just otto soldi or eight schillings!
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OTTOSOLDI Gavi DOCG
The Ottosoldi winery and estate in Gavi, named after the “otto soldi” or eight shillings that the current owners’ grandfather paid for the farm, produces some of the appellation’s top wines using estate-grown fruit from a coveted five-hectare amphitheater parcel with southwest exposure and excellent climatic conditions.
OTTOSOLDI Barbera del Monferrato DOC
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PIEMONTE
Torino
Alessandria
Asti
Gavi
Scagliola
Leading producer of Moscato d’Asti, known for their high quality, old-school style, and eye-catching labels.
• Silvia and Giovanni Scagliola represent the fourth generation of the Scagliola family to make wine in Asti (Piedmont). • By the 1980s, the family had begun to bottle what would become one of Piedmont’s most famous sparkling wines, their now legendary Moscato d’Asti DOCG. • Superior quality Moscato d’Asti has always been the winery’s primary focus, the winery also produces a great Barbera DOCG collection. • Although not certified, the estate employs organic farming practices and no synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides are used. • A quality philosophy: healthy grape-growing techniques and low yields per hectare. • 35 hectares (85 acres) planted to vine in Asti province. • Vineyards ranging from 350 to 400 meters above sea
level (1150 – 1310 feet) in elevation. • Soil: sand, marble and limestone. • Climate: warm and temperate.
One of the things that makes the Scagliola family’s wines so distinctive is their hand-painted labels by Asti-based artists Massimo Ricci. He began showing his work in local galleries back in the 1980s and by the 1990s was already well established as one of Piedmont’s most important painters.
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SCAGLIOLA Primo Bacio Moscato d’Asti DOCG
SCAGLIOLA Casot dan Vian Chardonnay Piemonte DOC
Scagliola is a fourthgeneration winery that produces classic-style wines in Asti province.
SCAGLIOLA Mati Barbera d’Asti DOCG
Known especially for their critically acclaimed
sparkling wines, the Scagliola family balances traditional Piedmontese viticulture with modern technology, combining the best of both worlds. The estate’s Moscato d’Asti Primo Bacio (“First Kiss”) is considered an appellation benchmark.
SCAGLIOLA Frem Barbera d’Asti DOCG
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PIEMONTE
Torino
Alessandria
Gavi
Villa Sparina
Producer of top-rated, cru-designate Gavi, the winery that changed the way the world tasted the Cortese di Gavi
• The Villa Sparina estate was purchased by the Moccagatta family in the late 1970s. • 70 hectares (173 acres) cultivated with the traditional varieties Cortese and Barbera in Gavi del Comune di Gavi, a restricted production area. • The best Cortese grapes are used to produce the Monterotondo Cru, an age-worthy Riserva declared the Best and most popular Gavi (Wine-searcher, 2020). • Cortese is vinified also in a lighter-style expression of Gavi from vineyards approximately 30 years in age and in a Brut sparkling wine aged on its lees for 30 months. • A light and refreshing Rosé del Monferrato and great Barbera DOCG are also produced. • Historical cellars from the XVIIth Century. • Attractive and distinctive bottle shape inspired by an old bottle that was discovered in the estate’s historic cellar. • Perfect climate for grape growing, influenced by the Mediterranean Sea . • Elevation: between 250 and 350 meters above sea level (820 – 1150 feet). • Soil: rich in clay and limestone.
When it first released its single-vineyard Gavi Monterotondo, Villa Sparina changed the way the world thought about Cortese di Gavi and the Gavi appellation. With its rich style, immense aging potential, and unique bottle shape, the wine set a new standard for quality and terroir expression in the appellation.
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BOTTLE FERMENTED
VILLA SPARINA Metodo Classico Brut Blanc de Blanc
The distinctive bottle shape used by the Villa Sparina winery was inspired by an old bottle that was discovered in the villa’s ancient cellar after the Moccagatta family purchased the property in the late 1970s. It represents a connection to the past and to the legacy of this extraordinary farm.
Other formats available: 0.375, 1.5, 3 L
VILLA SPARINA Gavi del Comune di Gavi DOCG
VILLA SPARINA Monterotondo Gavi del Comune di Gavi DOCG
VILLA SPARINA Rosé Monferrato Chiaretto DOC
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Other formats available: 0.375 L
VILLA SPARINA Barbera del Monferrato DOC
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TRENTINO – ALTO ADIGE
As you drive north from Verona toward Austria, the land rises up rapidly before you suddenly find yourself in a valley in the sky — the Val d’Adige, the Adige River Valley in Italy’s Dolomite Alps. It’s one of the most compelling landscapes you’ll ever see, with its apple orchards stretching across the valley floor and
vineyards planted along the hills on either side of this long narrow stretch of land surrounded by towering mountains. It’s in this pristine ancient riverbed that the wineries of Italian- speaking Trentino in the south and German-speaking Alto Adige (South Tyrol) in the north are found.
The soils in the vineyards, some of the highest-lying parcels in the world, are mostly volcanic and diluvial. But it’s the valley’s unique macroclimate, with diurnal temperature shifts and protection from inclement weather thanks to the Alps, that make it such a unique place for viticulture.
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TRENTINO - ALTO ADIGE
Cembra
Trento
Lavis
Pioneering cooperative winery and author of an innovative subzone project and study that reshaped alpine viticulture in Italy.
• Located in the city of Trento in the heart of Italy’s alpine Trentino region. • The La-Vis cooperative includes more than 800 growers, with an average of one hectare planted to vine among them. • More than 800 hectares (1970 acres) of vineyards farmed by hand, in strict compliance with monitoring by Italy’s Integrated Crop Management National Quality System. • Pioneer of the Quality and Zoning project, completed and implemented more than 30 years ago, that enhances the importance of “the right vine in the right place”, encouraging the cultivation of both native and international grape varieties. • Quality, territoriality, and eco-sustainability to achieve authentic wines unmatched in their price class. • Roughly 80 percent of its production is white wine: Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and Müller Thurgau. Its members also grow native red varieties including Schiava, Pinot Nero, Merlot, Teroldego, and Lagrein. • Soil rich in minerals: sandstone deposits and Dolomites rocks. • Moderate cool climate: hills located at the foot of the Alps. • Vineyards planted on steep hills, as high as 800 meters above sea level (2625 feet). • Traditional cultivation method and hand-harvesting.
More than 30 years ago, the La-Vis cooperative launched a pioneering subzone survey and study of Trentino vineyards that would entirely transform viticulture in the region. Today, all of its growers use the best-suited sites for the given grape variety, thus increasing quality and terroir expression.
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Classici
LAVIS Pinot Grigio Trentino DOC
Classici
LAVIS Pinot Grigio Rosé delle Venezie DOC
Classici
LAVIS Chardonnay Trentino DOC
Classici
LAVIS Riesling Trentino DOC
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Classici
LAVIS Sauvignon Trevenezie IGT
Classici
LAVIS Pinot Nero Trentino DOC
Classici
LAVIS Cabernet Trentino DOC
The La-Vis cooperative produces some of Trentino’s most critically acclaimed wines. Here the focus is on freshness and terroir and varietal expression, an effort that has been bolstered by the winery’s ambitious subzone study, matching the right varieties with the
right growing sites, and its focus on sustainable farming practices.
Selezioni
LAVIS Cabernet Sauvignon Trentino DOC
6515
TRENTINO - ALTO ADIGE
Lavis
Trento
Cembra
Cembra Cantina di Montagna, a “mountain winery” and producer of top wines farmed in alpine volcanic soils.
• The name of the Cembra Cantina di Montagna cooperative means literally “Cembra Mountain Winery. • Among the highest producers in Europe: vineyards are located at an elevation of 550 to 850 meters above sea level (1800 - 2800 feet). • Part of the La-Vis Group and of the 1980s Zoning Project • The cooperative involves 400 members passionately dedicated to heroic grape growing on the hard-to- reach terraces that are typical of the Cembra valley. • 300 hectares (740 acres) of vineyards following La- Vis 1980s Zoning Project philosophy. • All farming by Cembra growers is done by hand in strict compliance with Italy’s Integrated Crop Management National Quality System. • Specific soil composition: the porphyry (the “red gold” of the valley) is responsible for the flavor and persistence typical of Cembra wines. • Wines known for their freshness and vibrancy with floral aromas and rich in fruit flavors. • Alpine climate, extreme temperature ranges, and excellent sun exposure.
The porphyry stone found in the Val di Cembra, one of Italy’s most beautiful and famous alpine river valleys, is used all over the world by top architects, designers, and artists. Its volcanic origins also make it ideal for the cultivation of fine wine grapes.
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Classici
CEMBRA Pinot Grigio Trentino DOC
Cembra Cantina di Montagna means literally “Cembra Mountain Winery.” This cooperative, believed to be the highest altitude winery in Italy, produces native grape varieties farmed on the volcanic- origin subsoils of Trentino’s Cembra valley, where elevation and alpine air currents make for fresh aromas and flavors in these complex wines.
Classici
CEMBRA Schiava Trentino DOC
Classici
CEMBRA Pinot Nero Trentino DOC
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TRENTINO - ALTO ADIGE
Cembra
Lavis
Trento
Oro Rosso
Top classic method sparkling wines made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grown in alpine vineyards using ancient training techniques.
• Its name means “red gold,” a reference to the famous porphyry quarries that dot the Cembra Valley in Trentino-Alto Adige. • Oro Rosso is a line of classic method Trento DOC wines produced by the Cembra Cantina di Montagna (Cembra Mountain Winery) cooperative. • Trento DOC is a strong denomination that distinguishes the best “mountain sparkling wines”. • Remarkable vineyard elevation: 500 – 600 meters above sea level (1640 - 1960 feet). • The altitude of the vineyards contributes to the acidity of the grapes; the fluctuation in temperature is a key factor for the wines’ overall quality and elegant bouquet. • Ideal volcanic soils for growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, used to produce persistent and mineral classic method sparkling wine. • Historical Traditional Method production area where bottle fermentation results in elegant aromas, well- defined full body and dense perlage.
For their Oro Rosso line of classic method sparkling wines, the growers in the Cembra Cantina di Montagna cooperative still use pergola training for the grapes. The old style of training, they’ve discovered, is ideal in the alps where the pergola helps to protect the fruit from extreme weather.
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Oro Rosso produces elegant classic method wines from what many consider to be the leading appellation for sparkling wine in Italy, TrentoDOC.
Thanks to high-lying vineyards, some of the
highest in Europe, and alpine growing conditions, the wines have a
distinctive freshness, rich mineral character, and complex flavors.
BOTTLE FERMENTED
ORO ROSSO Dosaggio Zero Trento DOC
BOTTLE FERMENTED
ORO ROSSO Brut Rosé Trento DOC
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TRENTINO - ALTO ADIGE
Cembra
Bolzano
Trento
St. Pauls
Soulful cooperative of South Tyrolean family farmers, with an average of one hectare per grower.
• The St. Pauls cooperative winery is located in the village of St. Pauls (San Paolo), in South Tyrol (Alto Adige). • With roughly 150 grower members, the cooperative covers 175 hectares (435 acres) planted to vine. • An average of one hectare per grower, all the members are family-owned and run farms. • Culture: the Alto Adige region has been part of Austria until the first world war – now, for 65% of the inhabitants German is the mother tongue. • Sustainability: solar panels, non-invasive grape growing technique. • World-famous Pinot Bianco: St. Pauls is the proud owner of what is considered the oldest vineyard in Alto Adige, planted in 1899. • Gravity-based wine-making process. • Vineyard elevation: between 380 and 500 meters above sea level (1240 - 1640 feet) • Mineral soil (Dolomites rocks) and excellent sun exposure. • Alpine climate that favors the growth of traditional and international grape varieties, all characterized by a specific freshness and high acidity.
St. Pauls cooperative is named after the village where it is located, in picturesque South Tyrol. That’s because nearly everyone in the town is involved in some way with the winery, whether as a grower or worker. You’ll find the other villagers at the winery’s wine bar enjoying a glass!
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ST. PAULS Chardonnay Alto Adige DOC
ST. PAULS Plötzner Pinot Bianco Alto Adige DOC
ST. PAULS Pinot Grigio Alto Adige DOC
ST. PAULS Gfill Sauvignon Alto Adige DOC
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ST. PAULS Missianer Schiava Alto Adige DOC
ST. PAULS Lagrein Alto Adige DOC
With an average of one hectare per grower, St. Pauls in Eppan in South Tyrol (Alto Adige) focuses on native grape varieties vinified in a traditional style, with an emphasis on terroir and varietal expression. Organic and sustainable farming practices make for vibrant wines with rich flavor and balance.
ST. PAULS Luzia Pinot Nero Alto Adige DOC
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VENETO
Long before Tuscany and Piedmont emerged as Italy’s top regions for fine wine production, Veneto was renowned for the quality of wines produced there. As early as Roman times, naturalists and poets had high praise for the wines of Valpolicella where volcanic, morainic, and calcareous soils are
ideal for the production of long-lived red wines. Lake Garda to the west, Italy’s largest body of water, is also a hub for fine wine, including white Lugana in more recent decades. In the easternmost part of Veneto, close to the region’s capital, Venice, Sparkling wine production has eclipsed the anonymous red wines
once produced there in abundance. The morainic and sandy soils of hillside vineyards in Valdobbiadene and Conegliano are ideal for the production of fresh, fruit-driven Prosecco, today the world’s most popular bubbly.
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VENETO
Vicenza
Verona
Venice
Anselmi
The maverick of Soave Classico who singlehandedly raised the bar for quality in the appellation. Producer of cru-designate wines.
• Pioneer of Soave Classico, the winery that put the appellation on the map after decades of over-cropping and mass production. • Maverick winemaker Roberto Anselmi revolutionized viticulture in Soave Classico when he abandoned traditional pergola training in the 1990s and converted his vineyards to Guyot and permanent cordon (cordone speronato). • He also was one of the first to introduce the idea of cru- designate (single-vineyard) wines in the appellation. • The estate covers roughly 70 hectares planted to vine, including Garganega (gahr-GAHN-eh-GAH), Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay. • Organic and biodynamic farming practices are employed in the vineyards (although Roberto Anselmi refuses to obtain certification, he could if he wanted). • Organic and biodynamic expert and leading wine writer Jamie Goode has called Anselmi one his favorite Italian wineries and has published extensive tasting notes on Anselmi wines. • Soave’s volcanic and calcareous limestone subsoils are ideal for creating white wines with extreme freshness and minerality. • In 2000, Anselmi wrote a famous open letter to the Soave consortium explaining that excessive bureaucracy and backward thinking had moved him to leave the consortium.
Roberto Anselmi single-handedly reshaped the Soave Classico appellation when he introduced Guyot and permanent cordon training and significantly decreased yields. His peers thought he was crazy when he decided to leave the Soave consortium so as not to be constrained by restrictive bureaucracy. History proved him right.
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ANSELMI San Vincenzo Veneto IGT
ANSELMI Capitel Croce Veneto IGT
ANSELMI Capitel Foscarino Veneto IGT
ANSELMI I Capitelli Veneto IGT
0.375 Liter bottle
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VENETO
Valdobbiadene
Asolo
Treviso
Verona
Venice
Antica Quercia
An organic grower and producer of traditional “col fondo” Prosecco, one of the appellation’s most beautiful estates.
• L’Antica Quercia — the ancient oak tree — is named after the two stupendous trees that look out over this small family-run farm’s roughly 25 hectares, which are planted to olives, pomegranates, and grape vine. • Its charismatic owner Claudio Francavilla believes that “integrated farming,” where vines are cultivated next to other crops and surrounded by woods, is the key to producing wines that truly capture the appellation’s essence. • He employs organic and biodynamic practices, including cover crops, in his quest to deliver the pure, focused aromas and flavors of the wines he enjoyed growing up in the heart of Prosecco country. • L’Antica Quercia produces a variety of wines, including an old school “col fondo” Prosecco, all sourced from his top vineyards. The expression “col fondo” means “with its sediment” in Italian. • It is used for wines that have been aged “on their lees” (the solids that result from fermentation) and bottled without disgorgement or filtration.
Did you know that most Prosecco was produced “col fondo” (“with its sediment”) before the Prosecco boom of the 1990s? Some people store their Prosecco Col Fondo upright and then decant it so that it is clear in the glass. Others like to serve it cloudy.–
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“L’Antica Quercia is renowned for its organically farmed Prosecco Col Fondo, which is bottled undisgorged and unfiltered. But it also produces a classic extra dry Prosecco, a rare still Prosecco, a lees-aged Prosecco brut nature, and a red made from Bordeaux varieties”.
ANTICA QUERCIA Ancestrale Prosecco Superiore DOCG
ANCESTRAL METHOD
BOTTLE FERMENTED
ANTICA QUERCIA Su’ Alto Indigeno Colfondo
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VENETO
Valdobbiadene
Asolo
Treviso
Verona
Venice
Ca’ dei Zago
Ca’ dei Zago is considered the leading winery among the “new wave” of Prosecco growers, producer of top “col fondo.”
• Founded in the 1920s, the Ca’ dei Zago family farm and estate stretches over just six hectares (15 acres) planted to vine, including some of the Prosecco di Valdobbiadene appellation’s most coveted growing sites. • Vines are more than 40 years old and mostly planted on impossibly steep hillsides where all vineyard management must be done by hand. • Although not certified, biodynamic practices are rigorously implemented. • Traditional production methods: current-generation winemaker Christian Zago looks back at how his grandfather used to make wine. • Winemaking and bottling are carried out in strict accordance with the lunar calendar. • Renowned for his production of Prosecco Colfondo (or col fondo, meaning literally with sediment). • Recently the winery begun producing great classic method Prosecco, vintage 2015 was ranked #8 in The Wine Enthusiast TOP 100 of 2018. • Hills located at an elevation of around 250 meters above sea level (820 feet). • Soil rich in clay and limestone. • Climate is moderate-warm, influenced by the vicinity of both the Alpine Dolomites and the Adriatic Sea.
Christian Zago was among the first Prosecco producers to release a “col fondo,” meaning “on the sediment.” It refers to the fact that the second fermentation is carried out in bottle and the wine is undisgorged. The aging on lees (sediment) gives the wine greater character and depth.
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Christian Zago of Ca’ dei Zago is widely considered to be the face of the “new wave” of Prosecco growers and winemakers. Employing biodynamic practices on his family’s farm, one of Valdobbiadene’s top growing sites, he crafts Prosecco Col Fondo that is as vibrant as it is rich in character.
ANCESTRAL METHOD
CA’ DEI ZAGO Prosecco Valdobbiadene DOCG
BOTTLE FERMENTED
CA’ DEI ZAGO Prosecco Metodo Classico Valdobbiadene DOCG
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VENETO
Valdobbiadene
Treviso
Verona
Venice
Giovanna Tantini
Bardolino produced by one of northern Italy’s leading woman winemakers and grape growers, sourced from a top Lake Garda farm.
• Family business owned and founded by the winemaker Giovanna. • Located in one of the best growing zones just south of Lake Garda ideal for crafting wines with rich mineral character. • 19 hectares (47 acres), mostly cultivated with traditional Garganega and Valpolicella blend grapes, Corvina and Rondinella. • The two pillars of Giovanna Tantini philosophy are: respect for the territory and valorization of the indigenous grape varieties. • Fresh and lively wines, alternative grape varieties ideal for by-the glass consumption. • A benchmark in the Bardolino Chiaretto DOCG appellation. • Soil composition: glacial and alluvial deposits, calcareous. • Climate: Lake Garda, Italy’s biggest body of water, regulates diurnal temperature shifts, keeping the vines warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
In 2000, when Giovanna Tantini abandoned her law career and dove headfirst into the world of wine, she was one of just a handful of women winemakers in Bardolino. Today, she is considered one of the appellation’s pioneers thanks to her devotion to making high-quality, terroir-driven wines.
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Giovanna Tantini grows the grapes for her classic Bardolino on a small 11.5-hectare farm south of Lake Garda in one of the appellation’s best subzones, with morainic subsoils and maritime influence thanks to the nearby lake, Italy’s largest. Her benchmark wines are renowned for their vibrant aromas and flavors.
GIOVANNA TANTINI Bardolino Chiaretto DOC
93
VENETO
Conegliano
Valdobbiadene
Asolo
Treviso
Venice
Le Contesse
Pioneer of revolutionary technology for sparkling wine production and leading producer of top-rated Prosecco.
• A family estate, belonging to the Bonotto family since the early 1970s. • The land was originally owned by the Tiepolo countesses, one of the area’s most famous families and the inspiration for the winery’s name — le Contesse (literally, “the countesses”). • Total production area: 200 hectares (494 acres). • State-of-the-art production technology. • Exclusive “single fermentation” production method that ensures no exposure to oxygen (until bottling) and that wine never oxidizes. • This results in the finished wine retaining the original fresh, fruity character of the newly harvested grapes and less residual sulphites. • Elegant packaging and great attention to detail. • Climate: moderate-warm, influenced by the vicinity of both the Alpine Dolomites and the Adriatic Sea.
Le Contesse’s wines are as soulful as the family that built this winery from the ground up. It all started many years ago when patriarch Loris saved enough money to buy their first parcel of land. Today, this family-owned and operated winery makes benchmark Prosecco that reflects their local roots.
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SINGLE FERMENTATION Other formats available: 0.187 L, 20 L Kegs
LE CONTESSE Prosecco DOC Brut
Le Contesse makes classic-style Prosecco
from estate-grown native varieties. Using a unique and revolutionary single- fermentation technique that patriarch Loris Bonotto and his son Davide have developed themselves, they craft wines with impressive freshness and shelf-life, in part thanks to the restrained use of suflites made possible by their innovative technique.
SINGLE FERMENTATION
LE CONTESSE Pinot Noir Brut Rosé
LE CONTESSE Prosecco Rosé DOC
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VENETO
Conegliano
Valdobbiadene
Asolo
Treviso
Venice
La Gioiosa
La Gioiosa, a leading producer of environmentally friendly and top-rated wines from Valdobbiadene, the heart of Prosecco.
• La Gioiosa represents the tradition of winemaking which theMoretti Polegato family has been carrying out for generations. • Founded in 1974 by theMoretti Polegato Family, it is located in the heart of Marca Trevigiana Area, in the Veneto region • The name pays tribute to the old definition of the province of Treviso, “Marca gioiosa et amorosa” (Joyous and Amorous March) underlining the sociable lifestyle of its inhabitants. • The grape used to produce Prosecco is Glera, a typical variety of the north east of Italy since the Roman age • Substantial vineyards holdings as well as long-standing relationships with wine growers in the region • One of the TOP 5 Prosecco Brands in 2018 (IWSR September 2019 Harper’s mag) • The winery is also a leader in the production of environmentally friendly wines, and it strives to limit its carbon footprint by using alternative energy sources, including hydroelectric power generated by the nearby Piave river • La Gioiosa is certified “Biodiversity Friend” by theWBA (World Biodiversity Association) • All of its wines are produced by immediately chilling the grape must to nearly freezing as soon as the bunches are picked ensuring freshness and high quality • The wines are available in more than 90 countries worldwide.
The La Gioiosa winery in Valdobbiadene follows strict biodiversity guidelines known established by the World Biodiversity Association. Known as “biodiversity friend” protocols, they help to encourage insect and animal life in the vineyards, thus bolstering the vitality of the soils and the vines.
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Other formats available: 0.187, 0.375 L
LA GIOIOSA Prosecco DOC Treviso Brut
LA GIOIOSA Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
LA GIOIOSA Prosecco Rosé Millesimato DOC
La Gioiosa employs a groundbreaking
approach to sparkling wine production: The winemaker chills the newly pressed must to near freezing so as to lock in the grapes’ natural freshness and flavors. Vinification is carried out in a single tank, without racking, thus minimizing the need for sulfites.
LA GIOIOSA Prosecco Low Cal DOC
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LA GIOIOSA Berry Fizz Semi Sweet
103
VENETO
Conegliano
Treviso
Verona
Venice
Nicolis
Family-owned producer of Valpolicella and Amarone made using organically farmed grapes and spontaneous fermentation.
• Nicolis family winery, founded in 1951, lies in the Valpolicella Classico area. • Tradition and family: three generations of winemakers working together to produce a high-quality collection of traditional bold red wines from Valpolicella. • 42 hectares (104 acres) of vineyards. • One of the few producers still using all four traditional grape varietals: Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara and Croatina, the rarest. • Although not organic certified, the winery employs organic farming practices - no herbicides, pesticides, or fungicides are used. • Valpolicella has a privileged climate, thanks to its southern exposure and the protection it receives from the nearby Lessini mountains. • The Nicolis family is the proud owner of some of the best Crus in the Valpolicella area. • Elevation between 200 and 480 meters above sea level (650– 1600 feet). • Soil composition: morainic and calcareous, rich in stones.
Although not organic certified, the family at the Nicolis estate and winery uses no herbicides, pesticides, or fungicides in its vineyards. And it uses only native yeasts and spontaneous fermentation in the cellar, helping it produce what many Valpolicella lovers consider the appellation’s purest expressions.
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One of Valpolicella’s leading producers and
growers, Nicolis employs rigorously organic farming practices and spontaneous fermentation (native yeasts) to produce some of the appellation’s most iconic wines. The winemaking style is classic in character, harkening back to an era when food-friendliness and vibrant acidity were the appellation’s hallmarks.
NICOLIS Valpolicella Classico DOC
NICOLIS Seccal Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore DOC
NICOLIS Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG
NICOLIS Ambrosan Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG
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FRIULI - VENEZIA GIULIA / SLOVENIA
Located in north- easternmost Italy, Friuli and Slovenia’s Collio appellation has emerged in recent decades as one of the country’s leading regions for white and macerated wines. The appellation, which straddles the Italy-Slovenian border, is home to some of the white wine world’s most exciting superstars.
The predominant soil type is a distinct type of ancient seabed known locally as ponca (called flysch in English). With an unusual pink hue, calcareous ponca is an ideal complement to the maritime influence that arrives from the Adriatic to the east and the ventilation delivered by alpine air currents from
the north. Collio is the spiritual homeland of Pinot Grigio. Aromatic grapes like the native Friulano (formerly known as Tocai) and Sauvignon Blanc are also grown there with great success. In more recent decades, Ribolla has become a top grape for macerated wines.
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FRIULI - VENEZIA GIULIA / SLOVENIA
Udine Collio DOC
Ljubljana
Ceglo Goriška Brda
Pordenone
Movia
One of Europe’s most dynamic natural wine producers and organic farmers, the estate that put Slovenia on the map.
• Movia, is a family-owned winery with a long history dating back to 1820. • The current generation of Movia is led by winemaker Aleš Kristančič who is as renowned for his passionate embrace of organic and biodynamic farming practices as he is for his larger-than-life personality and ingenious approach to winemaking. • Located in the village of Ceglo in the heart of the Brda appellation, literally a stone’s throw from the Italian border. • 22 hectares (55 acres) divided among 18 vineyards, located on both the Slovenian and Italian side of the border. • Today, Aleš primarily grows Rebula, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay,Merlot, and Pinot Noir—all without the use of herbicides, pesticides, or fungicides. • The wines of Movia are made with the greatest respect for nature, with no unnecessary interference from the winemaker, and no filtration. • Soil composition: mostly Brda marl soil. • Elevation: 150–400 m a.s.l. (490– 1300 feet) grown on around 35 years old vines in guyot system. • The vicinity of Alpine peaks provides just the right amounts of cool air for higher levels of acidity and aromatic substances to develop in the grapes compared to other Mediterranean regions. • Climate: Mediterranean with moderate summers and sufficient precipitation.
The wines of Aleš Kristančič of Movia are renowned for their purity of fruit, nuanced flavors, and their terroir expression. From his zero-sulfur Lunar to his undisgorged classic method sparkling wine Puro, his labels are stars of the natural wine world and benchmarks for Slovenian and Friulian winemaking.
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Other formats available: 1.5 L
MOVIA Puro Brda
For his critically acclaimed classic method sparkling wine Puro, winemaker Aleš Kristančič of Movia uses reserved grape must in the place of refined cane sugar as the sweetener to provoke the second fermentation of the wine. As a result, it’s one of the “purest” expressions of Brda’s terroir.
Other formats available: 1.5 L
MOVIA Puro Rosé Brda
1 Liter bottle. To be decanted.
MOVIA Lunar Brda
MOVIA Sivi Pinot Grigio Brda
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MOVIA Sivi Ambra Pinot Grigio Brda
MOVIA Sauvignon Brda
MOVIA Rebula Brda
MOVIA Exto Gredič Brda
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MOVIA Malval Brda
MOVIA Modri Pinot Noir Brda
MOVIA Veliko Rdeče Brda
MOVIA Veliko Belo Brda
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MOVIA Cabernet Sauvignon Brda
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LOMBARDIA
Protected from inclement weather from the north by the alps and with numerous lakes that provide maritime influence, Lombardy has been a major producer of fine wine since the Renaissance. Lombardy’s most famous appellation, Valtellina, makes some of Italy’s greatest expressions of Nebbiolo thanks to its mountain viticulture and rocky soils.
Oltrepò Pavese, with its calcareous subsoils in the south, is renowned for its production of classic method sparkling wines from Pinot Noir while Franciacorta, with its morainic subsoils in the north, produces some of Italy’s best classic method sparkling Chardonnay. In recent years, Lombardy’s Lugana appellation, located to the south of Lake Garda,
has become famous for its elegant, lithe whites produced using Trebbiano di Lugana (recently established to be a Verdicchio clone). The appellation’s pebbly soils and proximity to Lake Garda make it ideal for the production of high-quality white wines that develop nuance and complexity with age.
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